Chapter 2

Earlier that day, Logan and his partner Luke Cage, sat in Logan's office going over the jobs for the night. Among them was the lucrative contract Luke had landed, providing security for the celebrity party being thrown by a local hip hop artist turned actor and entrepreneur. Ludacris, better known as Luda, and Luke went to high school together and were close friends. Whenever he was in town, Luda would call the company to serve as his personal security.

Since the guest list of the party included some heavy hitters in the Hip Hop world, Cage called for an all hands on deck security detail, except for those who were working other cases. He hadn't broken the news to his partner about his role in the job yet and had purposefully waited until nearly the last minute to do so.

LHC Security, Inc. was one of Atlanta's most well known companies specializing in personal and home security. The team was made up of former cops and IT professionals who had grown tired of stringent bureaucracies. At LHC, they found a group of likeminded people who dedicated their lives to making sure the world was safe for everyone. They knew the idea was lofty but it worked for them.

Luke's background was a little more colorful with his stint as a reformed gangbanger who rose quickly through the ranks of the Atlanta Police Department and eventually became a detective. Disenchanted with the treatment of cops and civilians alike, Cage decided to strike out on his own. He and Logan had worked together on a few cases and come to know and share a mutual respect for each other. He happened run into Logan at a security convention in the city. They struck up a conversation and Cage learned that Logan, a military vet and bounty hunter, was looking to get into the personal security business. So as they say, the rest is history.

Known internally as Salt and Pepper for obvious reasons, Logan and Luke used their "talents" as needed to get the job done. They recognized that people were very color conscious and some refused to deal with people of a different race. All of their new clients had to meet with both owners and based on that interaction, the team for the job would be selected. They knew it was an interesting business model, but it worked for them and their clients were happy.

"So what's the deal with this all hands on deck tonight?" Logan asked, just as a knock sounded at his office door. Normally, his assistant would let him know when he had visitors.

"I should get that," Luke said, ignoring Logan's question. Luke pulled open the door just enough for the person to pass him what looked like dry cleaning.

Why is he having his dry cleaning sent to my office, Logan thought watching as his partner closed the door and hang what looked like a suit on the coattree.

"To answer your question, it's a precaution due to the large number of celebs on the guest list. They will have their own guys but Luda requested extra security since he didn't want anyone saying that he couldn't provide adequate security for his function. I figure the best way to approach this is to have a few guys going undercover while others who looked the role would be posted in certain locations throughout the club," Luke told him.

"Okay so who's undercover and who's posted?" Logan asked, knowing the answer before he asked but wanted his thoughts confirmed.

"Well, some of us blend in more than others so I've already handed out the assignments to the crew and let them leave so they can get ready for the evening. That just leaves you and there's your suit," Luke said, pointing to the suit on the coat tree.

"And why would I need a suit if I'm posted?"

"Because it's a semi-formal, Hip Hop party. You can't come up in there with anything you have in your closet so I took the initiative and got you a suit. I think the pants are a bit too long so I have a seamstress coming over to hem them for you. And she should be here in," Luke said, looking down at his watch, just as another knock sounded at the door, "Now."

Logan just looked at his friend. He couldn't believe the nerve of the guy but was secretly glad he did because Logan knew if he had to attend the party, he didn't have anything to wear.

"Luke," Logan started, feigning anger.

"You can thank me later, bro. I have to look out for my boy, right," Luke said, opening the office door and letting the seamstress in.

"You have an hour to get the pants mended. You have what you need?" Luke asked the seamstress who pulled a small cart behind her.

"Yes sir. You have the payment?" the older woman asked, looking up him.

"Yes ma'am. See the secretary on your way out," he told her before turning to Logan. "Alright man. Josh will be your driver tonight and I told him you would meet him downstairs at 6pm. Don't be late. I'm leaving to go get ready and get the wife."

"Jessica not letting you go alone?" Logan asked, getting to his feet. He had resigned himself to his fate and went over to grab the suit from the coattree as the seamstress set up her makeshift work area.

"Nope. When I told her who was throwing the party and who would be there, she made me promise to come home and get her. She left Jasmine with her mom and she's getting ready as we speak. I'm working but she's calling it date night. Go figure. Anyway, holla at cha later, bro. Peace," Luke said and headed out the door.

Logan chuckled at his friend. Though hot headed at times, Logan had to admit that he was impressed by the way Luke was handling business, especially this party. Taking the suit in his private bathroom to change, Logan was shocked to see a shirt, tie, cuff links, and even cologne with a note from Jessica saying that she hoped that he found a friend tonight.

Logan chuckled again, shaking his head at his friend and his wife. Logan had broken up with his last girlfriend a few months ago and had taken it pretty hard. It turned out that she had plans that didn't include him. Instead of settling down with him, the person he thought was the one packed her stuff and left him for a wealthy businessman she met one day while visiting Logan at the office.

Since then, he had spent more time at work. Luke's wife, Jessica, also a former cop and part time employee of LHC, was working on a special assignment and noticed it. She asked her husband about it and Luke shared the story with her. Being someone who loved love and wanted her friends to experience what she had with Luke, Jessica decided she would help him find a woman. Hence the dress shirt and accessories.

We'll see if the gift works, he thought, leaving the bathroom and stepping up on the stool so the seamstress can make her measurements.